Bracelet



N. T. NELSON BRACELET Filed Jan. 1924 Charm:

Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELS T. NELSON, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. F. STURDYS SONS (30., OF ATTLEBORO FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BRACELET.

Application filed January 29, 1924. Serial No. 689,231.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELs T. NELSON, a citizen .of the United States, residing at .Attleboro. in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets, of whigh the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to bracelets or chains of the extensible type: and has for its object to provide a bracelet of this character comprising a plurality of box-shaped links which are elastically connected by links having springs acting upon them to normally yieldably hold the box-links in abutted position.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the links of the chain that they may be manually manipulated to be readily separated whereby one or more of the links may be removed or fresh ones inserted to regulate the operating length of the chain.

A further object of this invention is to construct the box-links of a single piece of metal folded into shape and secured by rolling the edges together.

A still further object of the invention is to form the box-connecting links in U-shape, the ends of these links being compressible or adapted to be sprung toward each other and are provided with means at their ends by which they may be detachably connected to the-ends of the next adjacent box-link when in extended position.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the members of the chain that when contracted to its normal position the parts are locked against separation.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation showing my improved chain formed asa bracelet and connected to opposite sides of a Watch.

Figure 2 shows the shape of a blank as cut from sheet stock from which one of the box-shaped links of the bracelet is constructed. I

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the box-shaped links showing one end thereof as provided with an end wall having side slots through which the ends of the U- shaped link extend to be connected to the next box.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the boxlink showing the opposite end thereof as provided with T-shaped slots for the reception of correspondingly-shaped heads on theends of the U-shaped'link.

Figure 5 is a prespective view of the U- shgped link showing its T-shaped engaging en s.

Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section showing a plurality of the box-links as sep arated and the U-shaped links as connecting the box-links, one of the arms of one of these links being compressed towards the other to enter one of the T-slots and engage the end of the next adjacent boxlink.

Figure 7 is a top View partly in section showing the pair of middle box-links in a bracelet having their abutting ends permanently connected together and said boxes having U-shaped links extending outwardly from their opposite ends.

It is found in the practical construction of extensible bracelets of this character. of advantage to be able to disconnect one link from the other so that if one is broken it may be readily detached from the chain and a fresh one inserted. Then again, it is often found necessary to extend the length of the chain which may be readily accomplished by simply disconnecting the link and inserting an extra one and the chain may be shortened by simply-removing one of the links and connecting the remaining links together. It is also found of advantage in bracelets of this character to elastically conmeet the box-links together and to so con struct the different connecting links that when the chain is contracted and the links arein their normal position that the parts are locked against being disconnected one from the other; and the following is a detailed description of one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the box-links which are preferably constructed from one piece of metal by being blanked out of sheet stock into the form illustrated in Figure 2. and then bent into (the form illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 forming a top wall 11 a bottom wall 12, side walls 13, and one end wall 14 having slots or spaces 15 on the sides thereof and an opposite end wall 16 having T-shaped slots 17 formed therein, the whole being locked together without the use of solder by rolling the edges 18 of the side walls over those of the top wall.

These box-links are arranged to be releasably or detachably connected together by means of a U-shaped link 19 whose arms or walls 20 are somewhat yieldable or resilient laterally and are formed at their ends withT-shaped heads 21 and the box links and U-shaped links are each elastically or extendably connected together by a spring 22 acting between them. A box link as set forth is such link in a chain. that forms an inclosure having top, bottom, side and'end walls and the connecting members between the links pass through openings in the adjacent end walls of the box links and are practically inclosed therein when in normal position. 2' I In assembling these parts the U-shaped link is inserted into one of the box-links, the spring 22 preferably of the coil or helical type is also inserted into the box, one end resting against the bridge portion 23 of the U-shaped link While its opposite end engages the end wall 14 of the box-link, and

the arms of this link are preferably of a length to normally extend a short distanceout through the slots 15 in its box which, assembly is completed before the edges 18 of the side walls 13 of the box are rolled over the top plate 11 thereof.

After these combined links have been thus assembled, it is only necessary in order to connect the different box links, todraw outwardly the arms 20 of the U-shaped link from its box link and then first pass the T-shaped end 21 of one of the arms through the corresponding opening 17 in the end wall of the next adjacent box, and then compress or bend inwardly the other arm of this U-link, as illustrated in Figure 6, and pass this end into engagement with the other T-shaped openings in this box link and when released the natural resiliency of the stock of the U-link will cause thesearms to spread automatically and enter the narrow portion of the T in the box link. Where they are retained by the inherent spring of the stock and when released the spring coil 22 serves to draw the adjacent endsof the boxes together completely housin the U-shaped links and forming a contlnuous chain of boxes which are elastically connected and may be yieldably extended as desired by the application of an endways tension on the chain.

When the spring 22 acts upon the U- shaped link to house it in its normal position in its box, it will be seen that the edges of the wall 14 serve to prevent the lateral compression of the arms 20 and thfileiore,

positively prevent this U-shaped link from becoming disengaged from its box-link in which its ends are secured while the U-shaped link is in its normal position, it being only necessary to extend this link and bend its ends inwardly toward each other to have its'a rms become disengaged from the walls of this adjacent link by manual n'ianipulation.

In some instances, particularly Where the chain is used as a bracelet having attaching members such as hooks 24 at its ends to be attached to a watch 25, it is found of advantage to provide a double link in the middle of this bracelet constructed after the manner illustrated. in Figure 7, in which these links 26 are permanently connected end to end as at 27 and each is provided at its outer ends with U-shaped links 19, the ends of which are detachably connected in the manner above described to the T-shaped ends oft-he next adjacent box-link. 7

My improved construction of chain or bracelet is very practical to manufacture, is handsome and attractive in appearance When finished, the links may be readily connected and disconnected from each 'other by manual manipulation when fully extended and are permanently locked against such .disconnection when in their normal or con tracted position.

The foregoing description is directed sole ly towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: 2

1. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, means for elastically connecting said links including a resilient connector member slidably housed in the box link and responsive to manual manipulation to detachably connect said links whereby links may be inserted or removed at will to change the eflective length of said bracelet.

2. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, a member normally housed by and slidably in one box link and being detachably connected to the next adjacent box link by manual manipulation, and a spring acting through said member to draw said box links together.

3. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, ble in said links and having resilient arms to be snapped into engagement with the nextadjacent link, a spring for normaliy hold-' a connector member slidaadapted to be pressed inwardly to permit disengagement ot' the next adjacent box link when said member is extended from its box link.

5. A bracelet structure comprising a series of box links, a connector member in each of said box links and having resilient arms adapted to v be pressed inwardly to permit disengagement of the next adjacent box link when said member is extended from its box link, and means being provided for preventing detachment of said connector member when said links are in normal position.

6. A chain structure .:omprising a series of box links connected by U-shaped links having resilient portions and normally housed in said box links, said resilient portions being yieldable to be detachably connected to the next adjacent box when extended, each box being provided with an abutment, and a spring acting between said abutment and a portion of the U-link to yieldably cause the boxes to abut.

7. A11 extendible chain structure comprising a series of boxes. a Ushaped link slidably housed in each box, the arms of each link being yieldable and so detachably connected to the adjacent box when in extended position. and means being provided for locking the link against being detached when in normal position.

8. A chain structure comprising a series of boxes, a U-shaped link normally housed in one box and having its ends connected to an adjacent box, the ends of said link being detachable from their engaged box by moving said ends toward each other.

9. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of boxes, a U-shaped link normally housed in each box and having resilient arms adapted at their ends to be compressed toward each other to be releasably connected to the next adjacent box when said link is extended from its housing box, and a spring acting on said link to normally and yieldably hold the boxes in abutting relation.

10. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of boxes, a U-shaped link normally housed in each box and having resilient arms adapted at their ends to be. manually compressed toward each other when in extended position to be releasably connected to the next adjacent box, a spring in each box acting to yieldably hold its link in housed position and the boxes in abutting relation and means being provided in each of said boxes for preventing a detaching movement of its link arms when in normally housed position.

11. A bracelet construction comprising a series of boxes each formed of a single piece of sheet metal having T-shaped openings in one of its end walls, a Ushaped link slidable in each of said boxes having T- shaped ends engaging the correspondinglyshaped opening in the next adjacent box, and yieldable means acting between each box and its contained link for holding said boxes in contact and permitting said construction to be extended.

12. A bracelet construction comprising a series of boxes, each comprised of front and back plates supported and held in spaced relation by end and side walls, a U-shaped link in each box between said plates having its end projecting through one of saidend walls, means cooperating between the end wall of the next adjacent box and said projecting ends for attaching each link to its adjacent box, and spring means acting between an end wall of the box and its link for normally holding the adjacent boxes in contact.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NELS T. NELSON. 

